Get the pros and cons of bamboo roman shades. Here is everything you want to know!
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One of the questions I get asked related to our home is about where we got our bamboo roman shades. When we moved into our 1950’s rancher it had just been completely renovated. Which meant all we had to do was put our finishing touches on it. It did not have any sort of window treatments though, so that was an opportunity for us to choose exactly what we liked.
I had been eyeing bamboo roman shades for some time before the move. I knew I liked the look from a design standpoint but wasn’t sure how I would feel about the functionality. Sure they seem simple enough to push and pull up or down, but what about privacy? Installation? Cost?
In this post, I am covering all those details. Spilling the pros and cons of bamboo roman shades after two years of use.
We have the Arlo Petite Rustique bamboo roman shades throughout our home. It is an Amazon bestseller, competitively priced, with the greatest amount of reviews.
These blinds are cordless, giving them a clean and sleek look. I love how the natural texture of the shades contrasts with the light, soft curtains. It’s one of my favorite styling combinations from my Top 8 Cozy Home Essentials list.
I also love how this style of bamboo blinds is gently light-filtering when lowered.
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os and Cons of Bamboo Roman Shades
Pros:
Feel, texture, and style–
If you’re in the market, the first reason you might consider bamboo roman shades is probably because you just like the way they look. They offer a cozy, natural element that works with a variety of design styles from boho to traditional to coastal.
Even though bamboo shades are a current trend in the interior design arena, don’t expect them to go out of style anytime soon. Authentic bamboo shades have actually been around and loved for hundreds of years.
Openness–
Here’s the thing, all fixed blinds, shades, or shutters can provide some degree of openness. But, I rarely pulled my previous wooden slat blinds up to allow complete openness. It was too easy to pop open the slats for partial light and call it good enough.
But Roman shades, specifically, can only be up or down. So during the day, up they went. Inviting the outdoors in and allowing the full light and scale of the entire window to be opened up.
Minimal cleaning–
Don’t get me started on dusting blinds 😵💫 Dusting is my least favorite cleaning task. Fortunately, bamboo Roman shades are SO easy to clean! It’s as simple as a quick wipe-over with a microfiber cloth and a little dusting spray.
Easy installation-
Follow the guide for properly measuring your window and order the best inset fit. Installation is super simple- although a second set of hands is helpful!
Light filtering-
Bamboo roman shades promote natural light even when they’re closed. This helps a darker home feel warmer and brighter.
We have the whitewash bamboo roman shades in our kitchen.
Cons of Bamboo Roman Shades:
Stiffness–
We have a variety of sizes and styles in our home. And for whatever reason, some of our bamboo roman shades are stiffer than others. This can make them a little harder to pull down.
It’s better to use both hands to raise and lower the blinds anyway. Don’t jerk or pull too quickly. This will keep the inner cord system running smoothly and extend the life of your blinds. (We learned this the hard way after having one break, but we contacted the manufacturer and they replaced it!)
Privacy-
Bamboo roman shades can come with or without a blackout privacy liner. So consider your preferences before purchasing. You may rather have shades with a liner in the bedroom for full privacy or blackout sleep preferences.
Ours don’t have a liner. They are light-filtering with moderate privacy. We prefer to have the natural light, so we just pull our curtains as needed.
Here is a great option for bamboo roman shades with a liner.
Cost-
It’s true, bamboo roman shades are more expensive than traditional wooden slat blinds. However, it is worth the splurge if you love the look from a design standpoint.
Rather than having a hit to your bank account all at once, spread out the spending by upgrading only one room at a time.
You don’t have to use them throughout the entire house either… You can limit it to specific rooms and still achieve the desired look. If you are mixing blinds from room to room, just be mindful of how it will look from the exterior. You want to be just as happy with the outside impression of your home as you are the inside 🙂
We have the Tuscan bamboo roman shades in our bedroom.
We have installed blinds in every window of our last two homes. And with the construction of our new home right around the corner, it looks like we will be doing it a third time! Overall we have been really happy with the design and functionality of our bamboo roman shades and plan to use them again.
Have any questions about the pros and cons of bamboo roman shades that weren’t covered in this post? Be sure to drop a comment below!
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